3 minute read
FMIC TRUCK DRIVE SPOTLIGHT: SCOTTY ROUNTREE
By Paul Dyess, Forestry Mutual Insurance Company
Scotty Rountree, known by his CB Handle as Rountree, is married to his wife Sarah and has two children, Carson and Truett. Mr. Rountree has been driving trucks for about twenty-seven years. His driving career has been with the same company, Sands Logging, out of Daisy, Georgia. It all began for Mr. Rountree with his father, Ronnie Rountree, who would drive flatbeds, sand, and refrig erated trailers for about forty years. So, Mr. Rountree said that truck driving was in his blood. Driving for Mr. Rountree began around 1995, learning the ropes of truck driving, and in 1996, he started working fulltime as a log truck driver with Sands Logging. He said that he has never been an over-the-road driver.
Mr. Rountree said that one thing that has changed during his log truck driving career is that there is a lot more traffic, and there seems to be more and more each year. He also said that the mills are more focused on Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
One of Mr. Rountree’s dislikes of driving is that he feels the FMCSA is over-regulating the trucking industry. And that the people on the road are in such a big hurry and don’t understand the trucks on the road, so they just cut them off constantly or expect them to stop or get moving as fast as they do. Along with that is that the public perception of truck drivers is just so negative.
Mr. Rountree also said that new drivers need to be around someone with experience and pay attention when they are telling them something so they don’t have to learn stuff the hard way. Because if they are ever put in a particular situation in the truck, they may already have the knowledge to get out of it or have a less drastic outcome.
Mr. Rountree says he doesn’t have any time that he is not working, but when he finds the time, he enjoys being with his family and doing a little bit of hunting and fishing. His family working hand in hand has been a big help in making his career a successful one.
Mr. Carson Sands, the owner of Sands Logging, said that Mr. Rountree could run any piece of equipment and wishes he had more people like him. He also said that he is a very dedicated employee and very safe. Even though he is driving a truck, he keeps the operation safe, and the company trucks up and running, and he is a very good mechanic. Mr. Sands also said that he
is not just saying all this because he is his Son In Law but because he is just an all-around good guy and is very thankful to have him around.
